New Delhi:
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi will visit Gorakhpur, Sant Kabir nagar and Basti district in Uttar Pradesh on day two of his Kisan Yatra on Wednesday.
Aim of our yatra is to pressurise Modi Govt to waive off loans of farmers, farmer community is distressed: RGandhi pic.twitter.com/kOxJfdVDh6
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) September 7, 2016
A huge number of supporters were seen at Rahul Gandhi's road show in Gorakhpur
Uttar Pradesh: Visuals from Rahul Gandhi's roadshow in Gorakhpur. pic.twitter.com/Y2HbGxEqVh
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) September 7, 2016
Rahul Gandhi meets Encephalitis patients at Baba Raghav Das Medical College in Gorakhpur
Rahul Gandhi met Encephalitis patients at Baba Raghav Das Medical College in Gorakhpur earlier today pic.twitter.com/UYSY9eN2NR
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) September 7, 2016
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi slammed Prime Minister Modi and claimed that he favoured only rich farmers.
Modi ji ne chhote kisaanon ka karza maaf nahi kiya hai, ameer aur bade logon ka maaf kiya hai: Rahul Gandhi pic.twitter.com/73IPzlzYbG
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) September 7, 2016
Gandhi also confirmed this on Twitter on Wednesday.
Day2 of the Deoria-Delhi Kisan Yatra will begin shortly. We will cover Gorakhpur, Sant Kabir Nagar and Basti districts today
— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) September 7, 2016
The Congress vice president also shared his schedule of day 2 of his Kisan Yatra on Wednesday.
Schedule of Day 2 of Kisan Yatra Wednesday, 7th Sept pic.twitter.com/XU1oKPZZU1
— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) September 4, 2016
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi holds a roadshow in Gorakhpur (UP) as part of his 'Kisan Yatra'. pic.twitter.com/EpiCtA58Fq
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) September 7, 2016
Janta trast hai aur Modi ji mast hain: Rahul Gandhi in Gorakhpur pic.twitter.com/Nls9zG7QeG
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) September 7, 2016
Aim of our yatra is to pressurise Modi Govt to waive off loans of farmers, farmer community is distressed: RGandhi pic.twitter.com/kOxJfdVDh6
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) September 7, 2016
What happened on Day 1 of his Kisan Yatra
The Congress' bid to make a splash with Gandhi's 'Khat Sabhas' ahead of Uttar Pradesh assembly polls on Tuesday left it embarrassed when people attending the inaugural event made away with thousands of cots amid chaotic scenes.
The Congress vice president on Tuesday embarked on an epic 2500 km-long 'Kisan Mahayatra' from Deoria in eastern Uttar Pradesh and held the first 'Khat Sabha' (charpoy meeting) where he interacted with the locals.
Moments after he left having made a raft of promises like farm loan waiver, reduction of power tariff and higher minimum support price for agricultural produce, the venue plunged into utter chaos with men, women and children scampering in, lifting the charpoys and hurrying towards their homes.
There were minor altercations as policemen were seen walking leisurely, stopping none from carrying away the cots.
When asked about it, a villager quipped, "Kya hai ki Rahulji ne hi diya hai (It is given by Rahulji)", even as he gingerly balanced the rally takeaway on his shoulder
Congress leaders, travelling with the party scion, were quick to deflect criticism over the matter, saying attacking the party on the issue would boomerang on the opposition as these khats still hold importance in the countryside. The party has arranged 10,000 khats for the entire campaign.
(Read More: Rahul Gandhi's promises to farmers are seasonal expression of sympathy, says BJP)
The 'khaat sabha' is believed to be the brainchild of election strategist Prashant Kishor where Rahul Gandhi would interact with the farmers in the run up to the UP Assembly polls.
Kishor was also credited with conceptualising Narendra Modi's hugely popular 'chai pe charcha' events during the latter's successful prime ministerial campaign.
(With PTI inputs)
